The Center for Sustainability and Climate (CSC) hosted a workshop along with their strategic partner United Nation Global Compact (UNGC) Saudi Network titled by “Understanding Sustainable Development Goals and its...
READ MORESDG 14: Life Below Water
Healthy oceans and seas are very important to our healthy life and a healthy environment.
Although this aquatic space is covering 70 percent of our planet, humankind is damaging these precious resources of water, food, and energy by polluting them. It is the responsibility of every one of us to protect all marine life around the world.
The academic institutions and academia can play an important role in raising awareness and conducting campaigns to stop harming the aquatic space. The research should target reducing the pollution and restoring the ecosystem by reducing ocean acidification and this is done through cooperation at all levels. Joint efforts should be put to reduce and to regulate overfishing. The University should encourage scientific research, knowledge, and technology to protect oceans and seas health.
The implementation of sea law and the introduction of the sea law in the law curricula will help tremendously to raise awareness among the younger generation to be conscious of the bad effects on our lives in an unhealthy ecosystem.
Healthy oceans, clean water, and preserved aquatic resources are essential to living better and to stay healthy.
Research and Data Collection:
Researchers at PSU have conducted research related to marine life, sustainable fisheries, ocean health, and other relevant topics and have collected data on the state of local marine ecosystems and the impact of human activities. Following are some of the published research papers from PSU authors on SDG 14.
- Taj Rahman, Irfan Ahmad, Asim Zeb, Inayat Khan, Gauhar Ali, Mohammed Elaffendi ,"Performance Evaluation of Routing Protocols for Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks," in MDPI, Dec-2022, doi: 10.3390/jmse11010038
- Gamze Yesilay, Layla Hazeem, Mohamed Bououdina, Demet Cetin, Zekiye Suludere, Alexandre Barras & Rabah Boukherroub ,"Influence of graphene oxide on the toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics to the marine microalgae Picochlorum sp.," in Springer Science + Business Media, Jun-2022, doi: 10.1007/s11356-022-21195-w
- Rahma Al Nadhairi, Ali N. Hassan, Amal Abdelsattar, Gerd Bruss, Suleiman Al Akhazami,"Ocean responses to Shaheen, the first cyclone to hit the north coast of Oman in 2021," in ELSEVIER, Jun-2023, doi: 10.1016/j.dynatmoce.2023.101358
- Yassira Boutaleb, Radia Zerdoum, Nadia Bensid, Rasha A. Abumousa, Zhour Hattab And Mohamed Bououdina,"Adsorption of Cr(VI) by Mesoporous Pomegranate Peel Biowaste from Synthetic Wastewater under Dynamic Mode," in MDPI, Nov-2022, doi: 10.3390/w14233885
Educational Programs:
Following are a few of the educational programs related to environmental conservation and sustainable management of water.
CEE 447 Groundwater Engineering
Credits: 3 (3,0,0) Prerequisite: CEE 341
Fundamental science of hydrogeology, the study of the distribution and movement of water through geologic formations, i.e. soil, sediments, and rocks. The mathematical models of fluid flow in porous media and methods for solving these equations (e.g., analytical, numerical, and statistical approaches). Practical groundwater engineering problems: characterizing the subsurface using aquifer tests, transport and remediation of contaminants, and innovations in groundwater management, as time permits.
Read FullCEE 442 Environmental Management
Credits: 3 (3,0,0) Prerequisite: Senior Level Standing
This course surveys the scientific principles of environmental issues and environmental management practices, with attention to the health of both humans and the ecosystem.
Fundamental and emerging topics related to air and water pollution, water use and management, aquatic ecosystems, energy and climate change, biodiversity, toxic substances in the environment, solid waste management, and regulatory strategies for risk assessment and environmental management are examined. The course will critically examine contemporary thinking on these environmental themes including: sustainable use practices, political-ecology, decentralized environmental management, and community-based approaches, social learning, and regional and urban planning.
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